How to Prevent Depletion of Natural Resources

From fossil fuels to clean water, society uses an immense amount of natural resources. Some natural resources, such as sunlight or wind, are renewable and aren't in danger of being depleted, whereas others, such as natural gas or trees, need to be conserved, as they cannot be replaced as fast as they are being used.

Reduce Dependency on Fossil Fuels

Preventing the depletion of fossil fuels is usually discussed in terms of using less gasoline and electricity, which is typically produced through the burning of fossil fuels. Although driving less and carpooling more are obvious ways to conserve gasoline, purchasing locally grown or locally raised food products supports farms and companies that don't burn fossil fuels in shipping their products over long distances. Other consumer purchases that support the conservation of fossil fuels include buying a vehicle with high gas mileage and purchasing Energy Star appliances.

Keep Our Water Clean

Water may seem like a ubiquitous, never-ending resource, but as the population of an area grows, the access to clean water for that population decreases. There are several steps you can take around your home to ensure that you aren't wasting clean water. One major step is to check for water leaks by reading your water meter, not running any water for 2 hours and then checking back to see if the meter still has the same reading. If it doesn't, you have a leak. Another effective way to conserve water is to replace or fix leaky faucets. A faucet that drips once per second can lead to 2,700 gallons of water loss in 1 year.

Preserve Trees and Forests

With approximately 4 billion trees being cut down annually to satiate the world's need for paper alone, preventing the depletion of forests continues to be an important priority. There are many opportunities in your daily life to use less paper, from using more cloth towels and less paper towels to switching to an online-only subscription of your favorite newspaper. When visiting a local forest, its also important to act responsibly. Campfires should be safely maintained, and the transportation of harmful invasive pests and pathogens can be reduced by following the "Don't Move Firewood" instructions listed on the website for The Nature Conservancy.

Protect Coastal Ecosystems

Coastal ecosystems aren't just important for maintaining biodiversity, they are also extremely valuable to the fishing and tourism industries. Whether living near a coastal reef or not, seafood consumers should be aware of how the purchasing decisions they make affect the environment. For those of you that boat along the coast, make sure you find out where coral reefs in the area are located. Reefs are sensitive to disturbances and should be approached with care and respect. For those people diving or snorkeling around a reef, a good rule of thumb is "take only pictures, leave only bubbles."

Get Involved

You can take steps to help preserve and restore the natural world. Contact your representatives at the national, state and local level to support laws and programs that protect the environment. Join conservation organizations. Participate in local activities, like stream clean-ups or bird counts. Urge the organizations you are part of -- churches, clubs, workplaces -- to be active supporters as well. Make sure your local school systems, at all levels, are offering curricula to introduce students to natural systems and the importance of their preservation.

About the Author

Brett Smith is a science journalist based in Buffalo, N.Y. A graduate of the State University of New York - Buffalo, he has more than seven years of experience working in a professional laboratory setting.